Jo Churchill made history in Bury St Edmunds this morning, becoming the constituency’s first female MP.
Mrs Churchill, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate, streaked ahead of the competition to win the seat, gaining 31,815 of the 59,566 votes cast.
Election 2015 at Bury St Edmunds. Count taking place at Bury Leisure Centre''Pictured: Jo Churchill announced as winner ANL-150805-073442001
Calling the campaign ‘a hugely exciting period of her life’, Mrs Churchill expressed her happiness at maintaining the Tory stronghold.
“I want to say what a huge joy and privilege it is to stand in front of you as MP for the Bury St Edmunds constituency,” she said.
“I add my name to the growing number of women in British politics, it is a significant legacy which I will not forget or fail to act on.”
Mrs Churchill, a former Lincolnshire county councillor, beat off competitors David Chappell (Liberal Democrat), Bill Edwards (Labour), Helen Geake (Green Party) and John Howlett (UKIP) to replace outgoing MP David Ruffley.
The mother-of-four said: “I’ve done a lot in an effort to show people I am very serious about being a good constituency MP.
“For me, this has been a six-month job interview. I feel very privileged that people have been so good to me.
“We have had a few weeks where people have been calling this election neck and neck, but I am not complacent.
“This is the first hurdle as far as I am concerned, but it was a good night.”
Both UKIP and the Green Party had a good showing in the constituency, with John Howlett and Helen Geake gaining 8,739 and 4,692 votes respectively.
Voter turnout in Bury for the Parliamentary elections was estimated at 69 per cent.
The full results of the Parliamentary election for the constituency are as follows:
David Edward Chappell (Liberal Democrat): 3,581
* Jo Churchill (Conservative): 31,815
Bill Edwards (Labour): 10,514
Helen Mary Geake (Green): 4,692
John Howlett (UKIP): 8,739
* denotes winner